life versus biking

[JoyfulGirl]

Hi, I was around for a few months ago and disapeared. I am really missing biking and wondering if anyone has words of wisdom. I don't know how to fit in time on my bike and the energy for actually getting out there.
I'm working 7 days a week right now and will be for the next 3 weeks at least. 50-70 hours a week. My job is extremely active. I walk ~12-15 miles a day we figured.
taking a summer session class in school.
Trying to straighten out other life stuff.
mom's having another round of surgeries and biopsies, post cancer stuff. Everything's going very well and All Clear but still stresful.
at the end of the day I'm just ready to drop.

I really wanted to try and ride a century by the end of the summer, there's no way I see that happening anymore. Do I just give up for awhile or what? I know this is less bike related than personal life, but when do you figure that biking is something that's gotta give for awhile? I feel like I'm missing out on something I really love as well as well as failing at a personal goal. But I don't see how I can have -everything- Has anyone here temporarily given up biking and gotten back into it?

In happy news, I AM healthier now, I've lost about 13 pounds and discovered that I have abs. Discovered that the south beach diet doesn't have to be militantly followed to make some super yummie recipes based on it that are way healthier than what I use to eat. My deep undying love for sweets and junkfood but I've realized I won't die if I indulge it once a week rather than once a day.

I still really miss my bike and bike time though.

[emily_in_nc]

Yes, JG, you most certainly can give up biking for awhile and come back to it. I've done it several times over the course of my adult life, once for several years when I was busy with a demanding job (like you), lived in a not very cycling-friendly area, and was concentrating on other interests for awhile. I later caught the cycling bug again and entered the most cycling-intensive few years of my life, doing five centuries, many more metrics, countless club rides, and a nine-day, self-supported bike tour (565 miles total).

I am currently coming off another long break; this time initiated by fracturing my pelvis in three places in a dog-induced cycling accident (while training for a century), followed six months later by the death of my father in a car accident, which really threw me into a place where I just lost the desire to ride and became too fearful of the road and motorists.

After about a nine month break from riding, I have been taking baby steps towards coming back. I recently discovered mountain biking (no fear of dogs or cars on the road) and love it, and I'm currently planning my first road ride in ten months for this coming weekend. I'm nervous, but hopeful too.

So yes, you can come back! You'll know when it's time. At least you are able to stay active and fit in your work. Cycling will be there waiting patiently when you have the time and interest in returning to it.

Emily

[Blueberry]

After about a nine month break from riding, I have been taking baby steps towards coming back. I recently discovered mountain biking (no fear of dogs or cars on the road) and love it, and I'm currently planning my first road ride in ten months for this coming weekend. I'm nervous, but hopeful too.

Emily-

Congrats on your comeback! Where are you guys planning to ride (not Bikefest I presume)? Good luck and let me know how it goes - I'm sure it will go well. Riding your Friday?

Carrie Anne

[LBTC]

JG, you have our most respectful permission to take this current break from cycling! You certainly have enough things going on in your world that you have no reason to beat yourself up about missing time on the bike. And, wow, congratulations that you're still keeping fit and dropping pounds that you want to! Good work!

For me, and people I know, riding (and exercise in general) is a cyclical thing (don't mind the pun). Interest, motivation, time, energy all wax and wane throughout life. I suspect it's designed that way to encourage us to savour the uniqueness of each time of our life...

Do what you can to deal with the stress. Sleep, meditate, do yoga, sneak a bike around the block in, or just don't think about your loyal bike right now. You will love her all the more when you climb back on!

Emily! It's cool that you've been on the mountain bike! yay!! I, too, find I'm much less afraid of what the woods have to offer compared to the roads....good luck with the next road ride. You're going to love it, too!

Namaste,
~T~

[Triskeliongirl]

I have always been what I term a lifestyle cyclist. To me, that means cycling has always been a part of life, but the style and intensity has varied throughout. For example, as a poor graduate student in Boston 25 years ago, I bought a touring bike and used it as transportation, getting to work, grocery shopping, etc. When my kids were very young, I biked to work, dropping them off at the daycare on the way in by attaching a baby seat, and sneaking a ride through the park on the way to work. As they got older and had bikes of their own, we cycled as a family, but high on family and low in intensity. During this time I was also busy building a career and working a lot, so I ran more than cycled for fitness. Then when they got old enough to want to spend more time with their friends than us, my husband and I started to do more club riding and touring. Club rides are also effecient since they get you up and out an dfinished early on the weekend, still leaving lots of time to do other stuff. But throughout this all I have tried to ride my bike to work as much as possible, since no matter how busy I am I always have to work! Just some random thoughts on what has worked for me.

[Jo-n-NY]

I also am just finally getting back after a two months off the bike as I could not even fit in trainer time. We opened up a retail store which my daughter is running as my husband and I keep our day jobs. Part of the product that I carry and began the business 4 years ago, I manufacture. I swore I would fit some kind of riding time while setting up the store, making inventory, and commuting to Manhattan from Long Island for the "day" job. One day would come and go, then another, than another and I was getting fustrated because I could not fit it into my day. I did better with a fractured shoulder because I would get on the trainer.

Going back a bit, I did ride my first century in the beginning of May which was my goal for this year and my last time on the bike was Memorial Day, then we got possession of the shop on June 1st, opened July 8th and I am finally squeezing in a couple of rides after getting off the train, driving to the shop to close it up for 6:00, drive home and try to get out on my bike by 7:00 as now I have to end my ride by 8 because it is pretty much getting dark and do not like riding in the dark.

I know the trainer will be coming out soon. We plan on doing an organized Ride Tour of the Hamptons next weekend, but just for 50 miles because my husband and I know we are not in proper shape to ride 100, but it will be a nice leisurely ride then another in Oct which is the one I couldn't ride last year because of my fractured shoulder.

Sorry this turned out to be long, but I think I understand your fustration. I know for me next year will be better. We decided on this type of business because the summer would be our slow time which wasn't good for me this year but if all pans out, will be perfect for us in future years. This store is setting the base for us to give up our day jobs, husband first as his is more demanding than mine, then me and then we will have a more balanced life.

So as difficult that things seem right now, a better day is right around the corner and you just need to keep saying that to yourself.

~ JoAnn

[Tri Girl]

Glad you came back around here to chat with us. Sometimes life gets away from us and we just don't have the time/energy to devote to the things we love. Could you buy a trainer and ride for 15-20 min. before work (ok-not exciting and takes away the outdoors, but at least it's a slow way to get back into it). Could you take the bike out around the neighborhood for a few minutes a day? Could you commute to work?
I know what it's like to get so caught up in everything else, but if you really want to, perhaps you could find some tiny way to give that bike a spin.
I know your bike surely misses you, too. Don'g tive up on your century, either. If you could start again now, you could fit one in before the end of the year...
Here's to hoping things slow down enough for you to enjoy riding again. And even if you're not cycling- don't be a stranger to the boards!

[JoyfulGirl]

Emily- Alright, after hearing your fractured pelvis story I'm less inclined to gripe about my own circumstances. ARG I hate irresponsible dog owners. I love dogs. I even love walking dogs, both of my jobs involve dogs. But they don't run around clotheslining people or anything. I hope your healing goes rapidly and well.
I hope all your nervousness dissipates in the face of the fun you have on your road ride! Kudos to you for being brave. And thank you for your story. It's encouraging. I'm healthy these days, just tired.

TriGirl- I'm just so exhausted.. I can't face the idea of commuting to work on my bike right now.. It's 14 miles there. And I'm on my feet for six hours, 5 miles to the next job and I'm on my feet for another six hours and or doing heavy lifting and then the 19ish miles home. I just don't think I could do that and work a 12 hour day. I really think I'd die<G> I do think after finals next week I will start taking small rides. But I thought about trying the commute. Tried measuring it out once, but I don't think I'd survive shifts of work afterwards<G>

LBTC- Nice Pun. hehe I hate the ends of cycles though as other things pick up and I start to miss the former activity and.. well. /end whine. to everything spin spin, there is a season spin spin spin.

TriskeLionGirl- It's really good to hear that other people have phased out and back into cycling. I just had this heart attack moment of.. "What if that was it?! What if I NEVER ride a century now?!" Can't do club rides, no problems waking up early on weekends, I'm at work by 6am weekends, 7 on weekdays. lol. That'll be my schedule through the end of this month, likely the end of next month too at the rate I'm going. I do think after next week though at least I'll try and fit in an evening ride or two a week. I'm getting alot of exercise and activity at work but really craving the zen bike time. And realizing, especially after everyone's great posts that it doesn't have to be all or nothing.

Jo-N-NY- Again, it's good to hear other peoples stories, motivates me to at least get out -a little bit- and that it's not the end of it for me. I can be a way too black and white person. I hope your new business goes great and smoothly and you have much more free time for biking this time next year... And DANG ya'll here have some nasty injuries. I hope that's healed up alright?

RoadRaven- I know life's gonna be alright, but like I said.. Just this terror of "what if that was it for cycling?! I liked it so much and now I haven't done it in more than a month?! was that the end?! how did that happen?!" I think I'm recovering from my moment of panic now<G> Especially after all these great posts...

Tulip-Nothing I can really cut back right now... Just got out of a very long term relationship that I was not self sufficient in any way in... Finally went back to school after dropping out of HS and College in my teens.. finally becoming financially self sufficient.. Doing the math and scheduling.. The next few months will be hell eh? But it's -happy- hell. It's not like I'm stuck here and this is the rest of my life.. It's that I'm doing this so that I can improve my life in the long run ya know? working both jobs to pay off debt and get stable. going to school to finish up diploma and 2 year degree that I had no idea how close I was to finishing. Just all sorts of stuff like that... I figured it was better to have 2 or 4 miserable months then stretch it out for 6 months or a year of just barely coasting along, being unhappy with my situation in life and having a lot more free time to complain in. <G>